High-living Count Nikolai of Montpezat and Benedikte Thoustrup unwind their summer vacation in the glamorous hotspot of St Tropez

High-living Count Nikolai of Montpezat and Benedikte Thoustrup unwind their summer vacation in the glamorous hotspot of St Tropez

In a recent development, Count Nikolai de Monpezat, the eldest son of Prince Joachim of Denmark, and his girlfriend Benedikte Thorstrup have been spotted enjoying a holiday in the South of France. The couple, who have been together since 2018 and attended Copenhagen Business School together, shared pictures from their vacation on social media.

Count Nikolai, who was born on August 28, 1999, is a member of the Danish royal family, being a male-line descendant of Prince Henrik, Count of Monpezat. The title "Count of Monpezat" was granted in 2008 to the male-line descendants of Prince Henrik, acknowledging his French noble ancestry.

Benedikte Thorstrup, whose background and recent activities are not extensively documented, has co-founded a company called BénéSoie, which specialises in hand-sewn silk hairbands and pinstripe bags. In a recent move, she announced that she would be stepping back from BénéSoie, transferring both ownership and the directorship to her father, businessman Anders Thoustrup.

The holiday comes after King Frederik offered an olive branch to his nephews, Count Nikolai and Count Felix, by honoring them with the Order of the Dannebrog in May 2023. The Order of the Dannebrog is one of the two Danish honours, typically given to citizens of Denmark as a result of outstanding service. Each recipient of the Grand Cross, the second highest rank of the Order, designs their own personal knight shield, which will be hung in the Knight Chapel at Frederiksborg Castle at an unspecified date.

The decision to honour Count Nikolai and Count Felix is seen as a significant rebuilding of family ties within the Danish royal household. This move followed Queen Margrethe's decision to strip Prince Joachim's four children of their royal titles in 2023, which considerably reduced the size of the Danish royal family. Queen Margrethe defended the decision, stating that she hoped the move would help the young royals follow normal civilian lives.

Count Nikolai, who has an MA in Science in Merchandising, has also worked as a model, making his runway debut for Burberry at London Fashion Week in 2018. His brother, Count Felix, has also received recognition, as they both were awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog.

Queen Margrethe abdicated in January 2024, making room for her eldest son, King Frederik. The new monarch is expected to continue the traditions of the Danish royal family, while also fostering a more accessible and modern image.

[1] https://www.royalcentral.co.uk/news/29147/denmark-s-count-nikolai-de-monpezat-turns-18 [2] https://www.royalcentral.co.uk/news/28569/denmark-s-count-nikolai-de-monpezat-turns-21 [3] https://www.royalcentral.co.uk/news/30642/denmark-s-count-nikolai-de-monpezat-attends-burberry-show-at-london-fashion-week [4] https://www.royalcentral.co.uk/news/31286/denmark-s-count-nikolai-de-monpezat-and-benedikte-thorstrup-are-dating

1. Count Nikolai, with a background in merchandising and experience as a model, has showcased his fashion-and-beauty sense while walking the runway for Burberry at London Fashion Week.
2. Although her background is not extensively documented, Benedikte Thorstrup, who is in a relationship with Count Nikolai, has co-founded a fashion company, BénéSoie, specializing in hand-sewn silk hairbands and pinstripe bags.
3. With their travels to popular fashion destinations like the South of France and their presence at prestigious events such as London Fashion Week, Count Nikolai and his royal family, including much of Danish society, embrace a lifestyle intertwined with style, fashion, and travel.

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